26 June 2021

Dear colleagues,

There are a number of updates to provide in relation to things that are happening in Queensland and in other Australian states and territories.

Importantly, there were some changes overnight to the situation in Sydney meaning that anyone who has been to one of four identified Local Government Areas in the past 14 days will be affected. Just after lunch today, NSW expanded its lockdown to Greater Sydney, which means we will make similar changes later today.

Put simply, if you have been to Sydney in the past 14 days, please be circumspect about your movements until important decisions can be made by the Queensland Government.

QUEENSLAND CLUSTERS

Brisbane community cluster (alpha variant). The cluster of COVID-19 cases related to the recent case that was in the community continues to grow, with two new cases linked to the Portuguese restaurant exposure venue announced yesterday. The new cases were quarantined close contacts and are now receiving care in our hospitals. We currently have in the order of 160 people who are identified close contacts in hotel or home quarantine and are aware of approximately 2000 people who have identified as casual contacts of this case.

This is a reminder for us all to stay vigilant for any symptoms, and to continue with our key preventive activities including physical distancing, washing hands regularly and getting vaccinated when we are eligible.

Hotel transmission cluster (delta variant). We continue to investigate and manage a small number of cases that have been linked to transmission between adjacent rooms in one of our hotels. All of the close contacts who were in the hotel have been identified and quarantined for a further 14 days.

COVID-19 HOTSPOTS

New South Wales

From 1am AEST Thursday 24 June, the Local Government Areas (LGAs) within the regions of Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour have been declared COVID-19 hotspots. This includes the LGA of Waverley which had been a declared COVID-19 hotspot since 19 June 2021.

Overnight, there were changes to the identified start date of some LGAs. Of note, the identified start date for the LGAs of Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and the City of Sydney have changed to 11 June 2021. This will affect people that have been in those LGAs in the past 14 days.

Overnight a new Direction, Interstate Places of Concern (Stay at Home in Queensland) Direction was issued. This direction requires anyone who is already in Queensland and has been in the relevant LGAs on or since the 11 June, to quarantine at home or another suitable place until 14 days have passed since they have been in that LGA. Importantly, this includes any staff member who has been in any one of the LGAs in the past 14 days.

The most recent changes announced by NSW to extend lockdown to Greater Sydney will be rapidly considered by Queensland, and I expect there will be advice and directions made later today. Please watch carefully for any updates.

Victoria

From 1am AEST Friday 25 June 2021 all declared hotspots in Victoria were ‘removed’.

A full list of hotspots is available here.

RESTRICTIONS EASING IN QUEENSLAND

As of 1am yesterday, restrictions have eased in Queensland. These changes include:

• Density restrictions lifted to three people per 4m²
• A gathering of more than 100 people at a private residence is allowed if contact information of guests is collected upon entry
• No restriction on self-service food
• 100% capacity allowed for events with allocated seating.

Fewer COVID safe plans will be required, and will be replaced by a single checklist.

With these eased restrictions, the Queensland Government will put increased emphasis on the use Check In Qld app and will also require a travel declaration for those entering Queensland.

We have Check In Qld QR codes for all of our facilities and businesses and designated COVID-19 areas within our facilities. You are required to pay particular attention to check in to each business if you attend (e.g. food areas, newsagents) and if you are attending our designated COVID-19 areas.

From Friday 9 July, use of the Check in Qld app will be required for our staff and visitors, except if they are an unaccompanied minor under the age of 16, in an emergency situation or if there is a risk to a person’s safety.

Kind regards,

Dr Liz Rushbrook
Metro North Incident Controller

Metro North HHS – overview of cases*

HHS	Patients being managed by HHS						FEVER Clinics
	Total In-patients			Virtual Ward / HITH / or similar	Deaths **	Total cases managed by HHS (including recovered) ***	# of clinics	Presentations
		ICU Pts
		ICU-NOT Ventilated	ICU-Ventilated					Last 24 hrs	TOTAL^
MN TOTAL	35	0	0	0	4	601	4	331	189976
Vaccinations delivered by Metro North Health
19/06/21	3,793			Total Delivered		121,157

*As at 25/06/2021 at 1000

**Metro North Health has four recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)   

*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North Health.